Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-22

Inc act 6ppites 70 Coai uiucoS htuca Vi
stratifed Ironstone. mines OF shale
and mines of FIRE clay. It begins By
defining what IL meant by g coal mine.
which, it says, shall include every shaft
ia the course Of being sunk. and every
level and inclined plaBe 10 the course OF
being driven, for commencing or open
ing any mine or for searching for or
proving minerals, snd all the shafts, lev
els. planes, works. machinery, tramvays
aud sidinRs. both below ground and
above ground in and adj 4oent to q mine,
and any subk shaft, level and inclined
place belonging TO 4 mine. Provision
10 made for the sppSintmsnt OF tnspea
tors of mines by the Secretary Of State
and also for tue appointment by the
mine sWneFs of q certi6eated manager,
who shall, after an examination by a
board of examiners, or after proof OF
STevi0us satisfactory service, be entitled
TO q certificate from the Secretary of
State. The rules with reference to the
employmsnt under ground of women,
boys and girls are very stringent. Wo-
men and girls and boys uader twelve
cannot be 30 employed at all, except
that boys may be SO employed 10 certain
specified Gases. Suitable provision is
made for the compulsory schooling OF
children Of certain ages who work in or
shout the mines, for stated number of
hours each wesk. The act also makes
careful provision as to the employment
Of engineers, the payment If wages;
weighing in cases where wages d pend
upon tae amount mined and the feno-
ing of abandoned mines. Single shafts
are prohibited exsept in certain speci
fed cases.
One Of the most important features
of the act 10 the general set Of rules
that must be followed by all mines.
The act provides that these general
rules shall be observed so far as is
reasonably practicable, in every mine
to which the act applies. The rules are
thirty one in number and cover almost
every possible contingency that could
POSSIBLY arise. They require that proper
means of ventilation shall be adopted
and also for the careful examination of
the mines at stated pariods. In every
mine in which iniismmable gas has
been found within the preceding twelve
months, then once in every twenty-f0ur
hours, II one shift of voFkmeu is em-
ployed, and once in every twelve hours,
IL two shifts are employed, a competent
person appointed fofthe purpose shall,
before work Ia commenced, examine the
mine and mske q true report of the CON
dItion thereof. EVery such report shall
he recorded Without delay in a bOsk Which
shall be kept al the mine for the purpose
and shall be signed by the person maxine
the same. Tee rules carefully guard
against the danger OF explosion, and
suitable provisions are made for cases
where noxious gases are discovered AID
for the examination by an expert OF all
safety lamps before they are used. Gun
powder or ether explosive or iDh am
mable substance Gao only be used in
the mine underground in conformity
With certain provisions which are set
out with great minRleness Among the
rules in addition 70 wAat hav9 been
touched upon are the f1llowiRg:
After dangerous gas has been found
in any mine, q barometer and theTnom-
eter shall bs placed above ground in q
conspicuous position near the entrance
to the mine.
A competent EeFson, or competent
psrEons, Who shall be appointed for the
SUPPOSE. shall ono8 al least in every
twenty four hours exAmioe the state of
the head gear. working plsc 8, lsvels,
pls mes, ropes, chains and other works OF
the niue which are 10 actual use, and
once at lesst ia every week shall exam
iue the state OF the shafts BY which
persons ascend or descend, and the
guides OF conductors theFeiR, at d shall
make 3 true report Of the result Of such
examination, AID sHch report shall be
recorded in q book TO be kept In the
mine for the purpose, and shall be
signed by the person who makes the
same.
lie persons employed 10 the mine
may from time to time sppoint two Of
their number to inspect the mias as
tLeir own oosi, and the persons 50 ap
pointed shall be allowed onsc a. least
IN every month, RooOmpanied-if the
owner, agent or manager of the mine
thinks tit-by himself or enc or more
Gfh1ers OF the nine, 10 90 TO every part
Of the mine aad to inspect tse ats,
lsvsls, planes, working places, return
Arrays. vensilatinR apparatus, old
workings and sgo1lsery, and shall be
Afforded By the owner, agent or mana
ger and all persons 10 the mine, tv ~
facility for the purpose Of such ipspes
ton, and shall make true repent Of
the result ~ such inspection, and such
report shall be recorded IN beck 10 be
kept at tbs mine for the purpos', and
shall bs signed By the persons who
made the sane.
Ia addition to the genera, roles, each
mine must h4ve its own set Of special
rules framed to meet the special cir
eau stances OF tie mine. These rules,
the o, o. Of vsleh 10 to prevent so.i-
den and 10 provide for tie proper dis
eiplins of those employed ia the DiHe,
have the same fOtes a. those contained
IN ire act. bnt mass no. be At yaTiaDes
with the general rules.
A espy at full length Of tie special
rules aud also an abstract OF tue entire
art ineladine tue general rules, together
with tie name and address u she owner
81 agent OF manager q TIE nine, must
be kept posted up on the premises aud
copy thereof sup lied gratis on sppii
cation.
The set in force in British Columbia
9Th respect 10 c7sl mines, which Was
adopted IN ls77, - very similar IN de-
sign aud 10 Substance 20 tbs act Of Great
Britain.
Tbs provision ua5e By the LAYS %
this Territory With references O. tiis
important sahiacs are entirely made
qaate. n 1883 Al sci VS. PISSED 'ars-
Eating 20 inspection % coal mises ard
vsHtiiAtiun Of coal ninssn ! bis ses
provided for tins appointment by the
Governor OF an Ins. e tor II q salary
Dot 10 excsed $500. to be paid from the
misire fand Fsgs@d ~ tx OF fsaF
miils On every ION af eozi solj er ussd
from the m.rss. TIE duties Il the It.
spsotoF are determined. and one or two
regulations are made with refsreces 20
the vsgkina % Tuines Tbs act vas
snsnced by a la % 1856 10 some i'm
poftAnt particulars. 1be las a. il noU
stAade. koEsSeF, - % comparatively
little uas. IL gives % tie Inspector Al